Stourbridge IT company joins the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre

Stourbridge-based managed IT service provider, Superfast IT, has become the first IT company to gain the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre Business Start membership. The affiliation between WMCRC and Superfast IT is part of the centre’s broader strategy to form partnerships between regional policing, academia and businesses.

The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (WMCRC), which opened in June 2020, is a part of a national network of police led, not-for-profit centres offering cybersecurity services and consultancy across the West Midlands.

Superfast IT, which provides IT support and cybersecurity services in Birmingham, will gain access to the centre’s security resources as part of the membership, keeping abreast of security developments and tools whilst improving the security of their 70-strong client base. Both organisations are hosting a joint webinar later in the year to raise awareness of cybersecurity fundamentals for small businesses. All organisations in the West Midlands may attend.

James Cash, Founder and Managing Director at Superfast IT, said: “Forming alliances with reputable, government-backed expert organisations is one of several measures to keep at the forefront of cybersecurity.

“We must not forget that business owners are ultimately liable for the security of their data and systems. A perfect storm is brewing: the growing reliance on the internet, remote working, IoT devices and digitalisation, combined with the increasing sophistication of cyber-crimes and a lack of understanding about cybersecurity. Without intervention, the business risks are huge.

“Those who are not cyber aware, or lack an understanding of their responsibilities, risk being left vulnerable. This is where the WMCRC’s valuable knowledge and resources can bridge the gap, while our managed cybersecurity service complements WMCRC services to make the implementation of security measures easy for busy business owners.”

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) are working together to support the establishment of Regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs). The CRCs represent a significant opportunity for the NCSC to expand the reach of its guidance and services to smaller organisations across the country and provide an extra level of practical support to enhance their impact.

Alison Hurst, WMCRC Director and West Midlands Police Superintendent, said: “I am delighted that Superfast IT has joined the WMCRC and I look forward to working together to not only share Government approved cybersecurity resources and tools, but also to collaborate in hosting an event jointly on 23rd September, 2021.

“We have the means to take pre-emptive action in cyberspace, should we choose to do so. Cyber-attacks are not necessarily sophisticated or inevitable, and they are most often preventable. It is the victim’s vulnerability, rather than the ingenuity of the attacker, that is most often the deciding factor in the success of a cyber-attack.

“Our free and paid memberships can help individuals and organisations, regardless of size or sector, to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their customers from the harm caused by cyber-attacks.

“It is our vision that businesses and members of the wider community have the skills and knowledge to protect themselves, making the region one of the safest places to live, work and do business. We achieve this by providing education, testing, and training delivered by our team of trusted partners, seconded police officers and Ethical Hacking students studying at local universities.”

The UK Government has invested a total of £1.9 billion in transforming the UK’s cybersecurity as a part of their National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021, with the regional centres forming an integral part. To keep informed about the centre’s latest events and how to get involved, go to wmcrc.co.uk. To register an interest in WMCRC and Superfast IT webinar, go to superfast-it.com/events.